Sweden never looked so brutal

The Swedish film based on the novel “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” opens Friday. In Europe, it has been a huge success, with its grim story about a journalist and a computer hacker poking into an unsolved disappearance. It’s pretty grim and filled with tension (and long, at 147 minutes).

Of note is that Columbia pictures just announced it will make English-language versions of the books (there are three that follow the characters in “The Girl”). The first film, supposedly, will be directed by David Fincher. Also of note is that the literal translation of the book’s original title Män som hatar kvinnor is “Men Who Hate Women.”

Larson wrote these crime thriller novels, but died at age 50 before his books were published.

My recommendation is to see this film now, before the Hollywood version comes. But it may be difficult to watch without thinking who will play which role in the film.